With the spotlight of ESPN and the NCAA Showcase present at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium Saturday afternoon, the Charger football team had an opportunity to show their considerable talent to a national audience.
But Hillsdale came up short to a Findlay squad that executed at a high level on both sides of the ball. The Oilers won their fifth straight, 31-13 over the Chargers. Hillsdale falls to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Findlay jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead while shutting down the Charger offense. Hillsdale had just 74 yards of total offense in the game's first 30 minutes, and appeared to struggle finding a consistent offensive rhythm.
Defensive back Jason McDonough provided a first-half highlight with an interception that stopped an Oiler drive deep in Charger territory. But a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the second quarter was a key one for Findlay, as it was able to extent its lead from two to three scores entering halftime.
Early in the third quarter, wide receiver Trey Brock caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Chance Stewart to bring some life to the home crowd and the sidelines. Brock fought off the defensive back on the short pass then sprinted past two defenders up the sideline for Hillsdale's first score of the day.
But the Oilers came right back with two more touchdown drives in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
Senior tight end Austin Adams caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stewart with 10:46 to play in the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring.
Hillsdale's offense got rolling in the second half, but was stopped on fourth down twice by the Findlay defense inside the red zone.
Findlay outgained Hillsdale 499-306, and possessed the ball for 37:44, the most by any Hillsdale opponent this season.
Brock caught 4 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Austin Sandusky made 3 catches for 76 yards. Stewart was 15-for-35 for 272 yards and two scores. David Graham led the team's rushers with 8 carries for 32 yards.
Defensively, Wyatt Batdorff had 10 total tackles, with eight solo stops to lead the unit. Dan Shanley had 9 total tackles, and Jason McDonough had 7 total tackles to go with his interception. Charlie Yost recorded the team's only sack on the afternoon.
The Chargers are back home next weekend to host Walsh University in another G-MAC matchup.